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EditorialThe Training Course ‘Mission: evaluation, result:

evolution’ is a project organized by Solidarity

Tracks from 24th June to 4th July of 2013. It is

supported by the «Youth in Action» Program of

the European Commission through the Hellenic

«Youth and Lifelong Learning Foundation».

Thirty five participants from nineteen European

youth organizations from sixteen countries met

on Lefkada island, Greece, with a clear objective:

create an educational tool directed to youth lea-

ders and youth organizations which will allow

them to improve the evaluation and monitoring of

their non formal education projects.

This was the serious and hard part of the training

but we also made time to share unforgettable mo-

ments.

Different workshops, energizers, games, free

time, trip around the island or intercultural dinner

are just some of the examples of the activities we

carried out during the ten days of training course.

In this magazine, you will find how the process of

creating the educational tool was implemented

through the workshops and the intercultural ex-

change.

Getting to know!Learning activities

- What, why and how-Questionnaire -Visit - Evaluation matrix

Developing the toolTime to enjoy! Tale of the psycho dwarfOdyssey reloaded

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This Training Course started with energizers

which enabled us to know each other. The objec-

tive of the first game was to learn and remember

the names of everyone.

Everyone was standing in a circle and the trainer

started saying his/her name and showing his/her

symbol. After him, the next participant had to say

the name of the previously one, his name and he

should make a new symbol. This action was re-

peated until the last participant.

In the next activity, the trainer presented the pro-

gram and agenda about the whole training

course and all the topics that would be included.

In this introductory activity participants shared

their experience about their work in the NGO and

they wrote down their hopes, contribution and

fears about the project.

Later on, the trainer held a presentation about

Youthpass and the eight key competences. He

explained the meaning and use of the Youthpass

certificate.

Moreover, the ‘Diary of the Training’ was presen-

ted, that is the evaluation tool method used du-

ring the seminar. «Diary» is an easy and practical

tool where the participants can write their advan-

cement and development during the training. It

has several parts: learning objectives, people that

can help you in your development, Youthpass,

skills and competences.

This activity was icebreaking: the participants got

to know each other and the trainer directed the

group into the way the course will be held.

Getting to know !

It was the 2nd day of seminar and the first serious

theme appeared. In the opinion of the partici-

pants: “Practically, we were thrown in the middle

of the jungle in order to understand the idea of

what evaluation is and its meaning.”

This activity was aimed to help us shape an idea

about the knowledge of the participants about the

topic.

Participants had to answer two questions: What

is evaluation and Why we evaluate.

This was realized through a hard brainstorming

in different working groups in order to gather the

points of view of participants.

Through conversations, debates and teamwork,

the different groups shared their ideas through

eloquent pictures, core essential or notion lists

related to the specific questions.

Afterwards, when participants understood what

evaluation is and why we evaluate, a new ques-

tion came into the working space.

Participants started working on How we can eva-

luate.

The participants had several presentations, workshops and group reflections which helped them to get a lot

of knowledge. The following were the most important for them

.......................................................What, Why and How?

On the 7th day of the seminar, the participants

had one session about the questionnaires as a

tool that can be used during the process of eva-

luation.

The main purpose of this session was to allow

participants to develop the correct techniques to

write and structure a useful questionnaire.

Divided in four groups, they had to analyze a “bad

questionnaire” which contained non appropriate

and wrong formulated questions.

Then, they discussed in groups, the participants

pointed out the mistakes in the “Bad question-

naire” and remade the questions in the better

way.

Afterwards, each small working group presented

the new questionnaire to the whole group.

The trainer finalized the session emphasizing the

good aspects of the questionnaires and showed

good examples of questionnaires as a tool for an

effective evaluation process.

......................................................................Questionnaire

Learning activities

....................................................................................Visit On the fifth day, the participants had an extraor-

dinary opportunity to meet with Cosmina, a Ro-

manian girl who is doing an European Voluntary

Service for 10 months in Solidarity Tracks.

Her main task during her EVS in Lefkada is to

lead workshops with Lefkadian children about en-

vironment and recycling, creating handmade ob-

jects.

She made a presentation about her EVS and

about the obstacles she faced at the beginning

of her work with kids.

Apart from this, she gave some examples of good

practices focusing on the difference of the eva-

luation process between grown-ups and kids with

emphasizing the qualitative and quantitative ap-

proaches.

On the last day of the seminar, Cosmina came

back. On this second visit, she presented the pro-

ject ‘Green O’clock’, a magazine focused in infor-

mation about sustainable development.

Another activity of this seminar was to plan an

‘evaluation matrix’.

The trainer made a presentation about the topic,

so the participants understood completely this

tool. The presentation covered several parts of

the matrix: project objectives, indicators, type of

indicators, source of data, sample, and methods

of data collecting.

Indicators are ingredients which say if the

objective is achieved or not.

There are three types of the indicators:

qualitative, quantitative and efficiency indicators.

Source of data is a store from where we

can draw precise information about what is plan-

ned to be evaluated.

Samples are the participants who will be

evaluated.

Methods of data collecting are a way of

gathering valid figures and information about the

project objectives.

Later on, the whole team was divided in four

groups. The groups got a real case study and had

to create their own example of matrix within 45

minutes. After that, each group presented their

outcomes and all participants discussed the re-

sults and provided comments and notifications.

Project

objective

Indicators Type of indi-

cators

Source of

data

Sample

(who)

Methods of

data

collecting

Criteria

Project name:

Evaluation goal:

.................................................................Evaluation matrix

It was the 8th day of that journey undertaken by

all participants as a team and they arrived to one

last big stop at the feet of the mountain. The

group still had to climb to reach the final goal, the

peak. This stop was not anything like recess.

First, they checked their maps to see if they were

still on the right path. They certainly had to re-

group and to check out the contents of their back-

packs to see if they lost something on the way,

what new things they had found and if they nee-

ded anything else essential for the climb.

Or, maybe, they had to throw out things that were

not going to be useful for them and which could

just slow down in anyway the ascent to the top.

Once the backpacks were scrutinized and opti-

mized, they joined the freshly formed travelling

groups. Each of these groups had a different

member for different tasks. They had a tracker, a

map specialist, a lead climber, and of course the

Sherpa for carrying the weight.

After finding the suitable track path that each

group was going to follow on this final attempt to

conquer the big mountain.

Everyone wished each other good luck and they

set off in hope and anticipation that in the end

everyone would meet each other on the top.

Developing the tool

Last night on Lefkada, a special dinner was or-

ganized with a happy ending. After the food was

eaten, trainers and organizers awarded to each

participant the Youthpass, which certificate their

participation in the seminar and the skills and

abilities they acquired during those days.

Youthpass

Colourful tables with drinks, sweets and food.

Traditional music and presentations about coun-

tries…High spirits.

The intercultural night started with Laszlo playing

the piano. Right after it, the host country, Gre-

ece, came with its presentations. Then, all the

participants introduced their countries, their food

and drinks. Everyone “tasted” the cultures.

Participants from Tunisia, Serbia and Armenia

had video materials. The participants from

Ukraine organized an interesting and informative

quiz.

All participants discovered a lot of new things

about other cultures and countries, some alre-

ady declared themselves as having the desire to

visit the countries that were presented. The at-

mosphere became more and more friendly with

people chatting, drinking and singing.

Besides the sessions, the participants were

given free time which they used for discovering

Lefkas, going to swim, having fun in the eve-

nings. This way they also managed to get to

know each other better, thus going deeper into

the participants’ cultural background, professio-

nal experience, future plans and their daily life.

The participants were excited to take part in

these groups and have this unique chance of

enjoying a non formal education.

Free time!

Time to enjoy!Intercultural night

Chapter 2:

The return of the dwarf

Once upon a time there was a small dwarf from

Bosnia who came in our community and wanted

to play games with us. His eyes were full of spar-

kles, we thought it would be funny but it was not

like that. He forced us both to tell lies and to be

honest, played with our minds and influenced our

answers. He asked us to say three things about

ourselves: two of them should be true and one

should be lie.

The observers should identify the false asking

three questions. The dwarf proved us that nobody

wants to say negative things about themselves

and how the form of the question influences our

answers. Half of the group chose to put the false

element as the last as he hypnotically sugges-

ted with the question. Then he flipped coins

in front us in amount of thirty cents and one

of the coins was not twenty cents. Can you

tell what the other coin was?

The dwarfs are very family-orientated creatures,

so he asked us to write a private letter to our be-

loved ones. It could be written in our native lan-

guage or in English. He didn’t want to tell us why

but we think it’s only

magic he wants to get

from us.

And his goodnight

kiss was an inspira-

tional visit to the world

of drawing the mea-

ning of evalua-

tion and

m o n i t o r i n g .

And why did

he choose

this way?

Tale of the psycho dwarf

The dwarf had a name. His name was SEA-DYCK

and he was so cynical. This time, he made us

cross the Onion sea, jumping on imaginary rocks

to reach the other side. Those rocks were disap-

pearing when anyone stepped on it. He was so

mean. If someone in the group made a mistake,

the whole group had to come back to the begin-

ning and start again with a new handicap.

First time, we failed. Without strategy, we were all

holding hands; some of us were carrying a

woman. Group was walking but rocks were disap-

pearing in the ‘sea’ and the last members could

cross to the other side. As a group, we were pu-

nished and one of our members became blind.

Now, we had to take care of our weak mem-ber.

The second time, we were a real group. Everyone

took care and helped other members to make a

save step. Succesfully, we reached the other side

of the sea

This whole experience taught us how to think us

a group. From now on, we will be looking back to

t h e

Onion

Sea, and

we can

say “Sea-DYCK, WE

DID IT!”

INVOCATION

Tell me, Muse, of that team of many sources, who wandered far and wide , after sacking the holy

citadel of Lefkas.

Many the cities which the team saw, and learned their ways. Many the sorrows the team suffered

at sea while trying to bring themselves and their friends back alive, they managed to save them,

thanks to their own wisdom, Tell us of these things, beginning where you will, Goddess, Daughter

of Zeus.

PART I: TROUBLES BEGIN

The sun is shinning Lefkas, the bus is going to Nidri, the team was on the bus. The folk was fee-

ling happy because they couldn't imagine what's was going to happen. But Gods prepared the

magic, the magic that Zeus put blessings into.

They passed from Lefkada island to Porto Katsiki, they passed the island Kefalonia, they stopped

at Ithaca island and the troubles begun

PART II : TROUBLES EXPLODED

Triangle was made. The bravest of the braves, Urban, the prettiest and purest of women, Maria,

and the wise of the wisest, teacher Sidik, were there to be put in action, trusting their skills and

highest intentions.

They swam in the nature, they enjoyed the turquoise waters, too much we can say, the boat was

missed, the captain heard not their desperate calls.

The phones were ringing, Mohamed first got the news: they were left on the island, no ferrie till

next day evening.

The team could not hide the worries: will there be workshops next day. No one to blame, the fee-

lings were happy, happy to get the beauty of rest.

PART III : TROUBLES RESOLVED

Where gods are playing, and Zeus command, there flowers are raining, and the lightness of

being appear.

Sidik got the message of gods, he checked with Mohamed, Urban said yes, Maria was smiling

her beauty on all.

The price was negotiated, no low no high, the decision was made of hiring a boat to rescue those

three, through unsettled waters. Gods lent a helping hand!

They came back to Nidri in the evening of the same day, Mohamed and his car were waiting, and

they took them to dinner directly.

EPILOGUE

No sacrifices are too much for things which are precious. Gods will help, Zeus will always bes-

tow.

The tool of evaluation the team is making will help, will help all of those who will use it.

Thanks to Zeus and his friends.

Odyssey Reloaded